Gezicht op het Hôtel de Ville en de Pont d'Arcole, Parijs 1858 - 1875

Curator: I see a hazy vision of... something grand. A fortress? Or a mirage, perhaps, from another century? Editor: Actually, what you're seeing is a gelatin silver print dating from 1858 to 1875, presenting a 'View of the Hotel de Ville and the Pont d'Arcole, Paris'. Curator: Ah, that explains the fortress vibe! The Hotel de Ville, of course, symbol of Parisian civic power. What intrigues me, though, is this dual perspective. Why present the scene twice? Editor: That's typical for a stereoscopic card. Viewed through a special device, the two nearly identical images merge to create an illusion of depth, a 3D effect! A popular form of entertainment then. Curator: A little Victorian VR! I love that. And it shrinks the monumental down to something domestic, something you can hold in your hands. There’s a democratizing force in that. Do you get the impression it’s glorifying Haussmann's urban renewal projects or do you think there’s more to it? Editor: That’s a good question. On the one hand, the photograph visually reinforces ideas about progress and order that the French authorities wanted to promote at that time. On the other, these images become increasingly popular in line with a more democratic approach to art consumption as prints were very affordable compared to painted artwork. Curator: So a new, broader audience for imagery that also reinforces social norms and values. But is that what all those little dots bobbing along on the water’s surface imply? I just noticed the details of these ships in what is clearly a city of contrasts in a moment of massive modernization... Editor: I'd argue that they just remind us of a very busy working class as Paris continued growing to become what it is today, both in image and society, with technology spreading as rapidly as new trends. Curator: So, it all makes me want to take a boat down the Seine! A visual prompt to engage directly with the evolving city. Editor: Yes, art acting as both mirror and invitation to step into the world it reflects. That’s really what makes it powerful.